Method and system for shot tracking

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a method for transmitting a RFID signal while conserving battery power of a circuit. The method comprises charging a capacitor using a battery. The battery is in electrical communication with a resistor and the resistor is in electrical communication with a capacitor and a load switch. The load switch is in electrical communication with an enabler and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is in electrical communication with a radiofrequency component. The load switch is closed, allowing power drawn from the capacitor to flow to the radiofrequency component.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to shot tracking. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to a method and circuit for transmitting aRFID signal while conserving battery power.

2. Description of the Related Art

Golf clubs combine with the players swing to propel a ball toward afavored location and through a favored path. The orientation and speedof the club head at impact largely determines the ball path includingcarry distance and roll.

The prior art is lacking in a method and circuit to measure the motionof the club through measurement of the shaft, while conserving batterypower.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is novel in that the observation of the relativemotion does not depend on near visible light and uses a coherent patternto capture the position of the club relative the ground antennatransmitter/receiver. This fixed device also includes a display,computing capability and recording device. This information, whenprocessed, enables the display of the swing and uses data on the clubhead and ball to calculate the flight of the ball.

The present invention is a method for transmitting a RFID signal whileconserving battery power of a circuit. The method comprises charging acapacitor using a battery. The battery is in electrical communicationwith a resistor and the resistor is in electrical communication with acapacitor and a load switch. The load switch is in electricalcommunication with an enabler and a microprocessor. The microprocessoris in electrical communication with a radiofrequency component. The loadswitch is closed, allowing power drawn from the capacitor to flow to theradiofrequency component. A signal is transmitted from theradiofrequency component, wherein a peak current of transmission of thesignal is limited to 2 milliamps. A confirmation signal is received atthe radiofrequency component, wherein the radiofrequency componentoperates at 2.4 giga-Hertz. The load switch is then opened and thecapacitor is charged at a controlled rate.

The present invention further comprises a method for conserving powerfor a shot tracking device for attachment to a golf club. The methodinvolves transmitting a plurality of signals from a shot tracking deviceattached to a golf club. The shot tracking device comprises a housing, abattery disposed within the housing, a sensor, and a plurality of boardcomponents disposed on a circuit board, the plurality of boardcomponents including a microprocessor. The shot tracking device isenabled to determine that a threshold number of signals has beentransmitted by the shot tracking device and a receipt signal has notbeen received by the shot tracking device, which in turn deactivates theshot tracking device until a predetermined event occurs. The thresholdnumber of signals ranges from 5 to 50.

Having briefly described the present invention, the above and furtherobjects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by thoseskilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description ofthe invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of components of the circuit.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of components of a system for the method,including the main body and projection body extending downward.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shot tracking device and the housingcomponent.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the circuit diagram of the components of asystem for shot tracking.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method of conserving power of a circuit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of components of a system for shot trackingwith the switch open.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of components of a system for shot trackingwith the switch closed.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a system for shot tracking.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1. shows components of the system which can be attached to a golfclub. Alternatively, the components can be integrated into a golf club.

FIG. 2 shows the components of a system for shot tracking, including themain body of the housing and a projection extending downward.

FIG. 3 shows the housing component of the shot tracking device andillustrates the diameter.

FIG. 4 illustrates a circuit diagram of the present invention. Thecomponents of the system 20 within the golf club 50 preferably include apower source, such as a battery 24, a GPS unit 30(a), an RFID component30(b), a capacitor 30(c), a resistor 30(d), and an enabler 30(e).

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method 1000 for conserving power for thecircuit. At block 1001, a plurality of signals is transmitted from theshot tracking device attached to the golf club head. At block 1002, thethreshold number of signals that have been transmitted by the shottracking device without the receiving a receipt signal is determined. Atblock 1003, the shot tracking device is deactivated until the occurrenceof a predetermined event.

FIG. 6 illustrates components of the system located within a golf clubprior to impact of a golf club with a golf ball.

FIG. 7 illustrates components of the system located within a golf clubsubsequent to impact of a golf club with a golf ball.

FIG. 8 illustrates the system 20. A transponder in a golf club 50 swungby a golfer sends a signal 62 to a receiver 60. The receiver is attachedto a golf bag 61, however, those skilled within the pertinent art willrecognize that the receiver may be attached to any pertinent deviceincluding the golfer, or may stand alone.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a shot trackingdevice 20 for attachment to a golf club 50 comprises a housing 22, abattery 24 disposed within the housing and a circuit board 26 disposedwithin the housing 22. A sensor 28 is disposed on the circuit board 26.A plurality of components 30 are disposed on both the first and secondside of the circuit board 26. The shot tracking device 20 transmits asignal when the golf club 50 strikes a golf ball and the signalcomprises the identification of the golf club 50.

Preferably, the housing 22 is a rubberized material formed around thebattery 24, the circuit board 26, the sensor 28 and the plurality ofchips. In an alternative embodiment, the housing 22 is an epoxy materialformed around the battery 24, the circuit board 26, the sensor 28 andthe plurality of components 30.

The plurality of components, disposed on the circuit board 26, include amicroprocessor, an RFD component 30(b), a capacitor 30(c), a resistor30(d) and an enabler 30(e). In one embodiment, the sensor 28 is a loadswitch. The housing 22 preferably comprises a main body 22(a) and aprojection body 22(b). The projection body 22(b) preferably has a lengththat ranges from 5 mm to 1 mm. The housing 22 preferably has a diameter,D, that ranges from 20 mm to 25 mm. The battery 24 is preferably aCR1620 having at least 75 milliamps of power.

The plurality of board components 30 includes a microprocessor. The shottracking device 20 transmits a signal when the golf club 50 strikes anobject. The signal comprises the identification of the golf club 50. Themicroprocessor is configured to deactivate transmissions of the signalwhen a threshold number of signals are transmitted by the shot trackingdevice 20 and a receipt signal is not received by the shot trackingdevice 20. The threshold number of signals ranges from 5 to 50. Thethreshold number of signals preferably ranges from 10 to 40, morepreferably from 15 to 30 and is most preferred to be 20. Each signaltransmitted consumes approximately 2 milliamps of power. The signalcomprises a frequency of approximately 2.4 GHz.

The method of the present invention comprises charging a capacitor 30(c)using a battery 24. The battery 24 is in electrical communication with aresistor 30(d) and the resistor 30(d) is in electrical communicationwith a capacitor 30(c) and a load switch 28. The load switch 28 is inelectrical communication with an enabler 30(e) and a microprocessor. Themicroprocessor is in electrical communication with a radiofrequencycomponent 30(b). The load switch 28 is closed, allowing power drawn fromthe capacitor 30(c) to flow to the radiofrequency component 30(b). Asignal 62 is transmitted from the radiofrequency component 30(b),wherein a peak current of transmission of the signal 62 is limited to 2milliamps. A confirmation signal is received at the radiofrequencycomponent 30(b), wherein the radiofrequency component operates at 2.4giga-Hertz. The load switch 28 is then opened and the capacitor 30(c) ischarged at a controlled rate.

The circuit 26 for transmitting a RFID signal 62 while conservingbattery power comprises a battery 24 in electrical communication with aresistor 30(d), wherein the battery 24 is a three volt battery and theresistor 30(d) controls the rate at which the capacitor 30(c) ischarged. The resistor 30(d) is in electrical communication with thecapacitor 30(c) and a load switch 30(f). The capacitor 30(c) ispreferably a 1 micro Faraday capacitor. The load switch 30(f) is inelectrical communication with the microprocessor 30(a), wherein when theload switch 30(f) is closed, current drawn from the capacitor 30(c) isallowed to flow to the microprocessor 30(a). The microprocessor 30(a) isin electrical communication with a radiofrequency component 30(b),wherein a signal 62 is transmitted from the radiofrequency component30(b) and a confirmation signal is received at the radiofrequencycomponent 30(b), wherein the radiofrequency component 30(b) operates at2.5 giga-Hertz. A peak current of transmission of the signal is limitedto 2 milliamps.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the shot trackingdevice 20 comprises a housing 22 with a main body 22(a) and a projectionbody 22(b) extending downward from the main body 22(a). A battery 24 isdisposed within the housing 22 and a circuit board 26 is disposed withinthe housing 22 and below the battery 24. The circuit board 26 is doublesided, and has a shock switch disposed on the second side. A pluralityof components 30, including a microprocessor, an RFID chip 30(b), acapacitor 30(c), a resistor 30(d), and an enabler 30(e), are disposed onboth the first and second side of the circuit board 26. The shottracking device 20 transmits a signal when the golf club 50 strikes agolf ball, the signal comprising an identification of the golf club 50.

The plurality of board components 30 includes a microprocessor. The shottracking device 20 transmits a signal when the golf club 50 strikes anobject. The signal comprises the identification of the golf club 50. Themicroprocessor is configured to deactivate transmissions of the signalwhen a threshold number of signals are transmitted by the shot trackingdevice 20 and a receipt signal is not received by the shot trackingdevice 20. The threshold number of signals ranges from 5 to 50. Thethreshold number of signals preferably ranges from 10 to 40, morepreferably from 15 to 30 and is most preferred to be 20. Each signaltransmitted consumes approximately 2 milliamps of power. The signalcomprises a frequency of approximately 2.4 GHz.

Preferably, the housing 22 is a rubberized material formed around thebattery 24, the circuit board 26, the sensor 28 and the plurality ofchips. Alternatively, the housing 22 is an epoxy material formed aroundthe battery 24, the circuit board 26, the sensor 28 and the plurality ofboard components 30.

The battery 24 is preferably a CR1620 having at least 75 milliamps ofpower. Preferably, the sensor 28 is a shock switch. The housing 22preferably has a diameter, D, that ranges from 20 mm to 25 mm. Theprojection body 22(b) preferably has a length that ranges from 5 mm to10 mm.

The present invention further comprises a method for conserving powerfor a shot tracking device 20 for attachment to a golf club 50. Themethod 1000 involves transmitting a plurality of signals from a shottracking device 20 attached to a golf club 50. The shot tracking device20 comprises a housing 22, a battery 24 disposed within the housing 22,a sensor 28, and a plurality of board components 30 disposed on acircuit board 26, the plurality of board components 30 including amicroprocessor. The shot tracking device 20 is enabled to determine thata threshold number of signals has been transmitted by the shot trackingdevice 20 and a receipt signal has not been received by the shottracking device 20, which in turn deactivates the shot tracking 20device until a predetermined event occurs. The threshold number ofsignals ranges from 5 to 50. The threshold number of signals preferablyranges from 10 to 40, more preferably from 15 to 30 and is mostpreferred to be 20. Each signal transmitted consumes approximately 2milliamps of power. The signal comprises a frequency of approximately2.4 GHz. The predetermined event is preferably a receipt signal beingreceived by the shot tracking device 20. Alternatively, the predetermineevent may be a period of time passing. The period of time passing ispreferably one hour.

When the load switch 53 is closed, power 52 flows to the microprocessor30(a) and the radiofrequency component 30(b). The power 52 is drawn fromthe capacitor 30(c). A signal 62 is transmitted from the radiofrequencycomponent 30(b) and a confirmation signal 62 is received at theradiofrequency component 30(b). The load switch 53 is opened and thecapacitor 30(c) is recharged at a controlled rate.

The peak current for transmission of the signal 62 is preferably limitedto 2 milli-amps. The radiofrequency component 30(b) preferably operatesat 2.4 giga-Hertz. Preferably, the microprocessor 30(a) and theradiofrequency component 30(b) are integrated. The capacitor 30(c) ispreferably a 1 micro-Faraday capacitor.

The receiver is preferably a GPS device such as disclosed in Balardetaet al., U.S. Patent Publication Number 20090075761 for a Golf GPS DeviceAnd System, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.Alternatively, the receiver is a personal digital assistant (PDA),“smart phone”, mobile phone, or other similar device. However, thoseskilled in the pertinent art will recognize that the receiver may be anydevice capable of receiving and storing signals from the RFID tag.

Gibbs, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,163,468 is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

Galloway, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,163,470 is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

Williams, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,166,038 is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

Desmukh U.S. Pat. No. 7,214,143 is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety.

Murphy, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,600 is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

Gibbs, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,626 is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

Galloway, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,258,631 is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

Evans, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,273,419 is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

Hocknell, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 7,413,250 is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

The measurements may be inputted into an impact code such as the rigidbody code disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,821,209, entitled Method forPredicting a Golfer's Ball Striking Performance, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

The swing properties are preferably determined using an acquisitionsystem such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,431,990, entitled System andMethod for Measuring a Golfer's Ball Striking Parameters, assigned toCallaway Golf Company, the assignee of the present application, andhereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. However, those skilledin the pertinent art will recognize that other acquisition systems maybe used to determine the swing properties.

Other methods that are useful in obtaining a golfer's swingcharacteristics are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,175, for aDiagnostic Golf Club System, U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,634, for anInstrumented Golf Club System And Method Of Use, and U.S. Pat. No.6,224,493, for an Instrumented Golf Club System And Method Of Use, allof which are assigned to Callaway Golf Company, the assignee of thepresent application, and all of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties.

From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinentart will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention andwill readily understand that while the present invention has beendescribed in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and otherembodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes,modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which isintended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in thefollowing appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the inventionin which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined inthe following appended claims.

1. A method for transmitting a RFID signal while conserving batterypower of a circuit, the method comprising: charging a capacitor using abattery, the battery having at least 75 milliamps of power, the batteryin electrical communication with a resistor, the resistor in electricalcommunication with the capacitor and a load switch, the load switch inelectrical communication with an enabler and a microprocessor, themicroprocessor in electrical communication with a radiofrequencycomponent, and wherein the capacitor is a 1 micro-Farad capacitor;closing the load switch to power the microprocessor and theradiofrequency component upon an impact, the power drawn from thecapacitor, wherein the microprocessor and the radiofrequency componentonly receive power when the load switch is closed; transmitting a signalfrom the radiofrequency component, wherein a peak current oftransmission of the signal is limited to 2 milliamps; receiving aconfirmation signal at the radiofrequency component, wherein theradiofrequency component operates at 2.4 giga-Hertz, wherein theradiofrequency component continues to transmit a signal until apredetermined event; opening the load switch thereby removing power fromthe microprocessor and the radiofrequency component; and recharging thecapacitor at a controlled rate, wherein the resistor allows for chargingof the capacitor from the battery at the controlled rate.